High-fat cheeses could slash risk of dementia

High-fat cheeses may help protect the brain against dementia.

In a long-running study out of Sweden, researchers found that people who ate about two slices of full-fat cheese a day were 13 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who ate very little.

The effect was even stronger for vascular dementia, the second most common type of degenerative condition that causes declines in thinking, memory and judgment skills, with the risk reduced by 29 percent.

The findings came from an analysis of medical and nutritional records of 27,670 adults followed for 25 years by scientists at Lund University.

Participants’ eating habits were compared with subsequent dementia diagnoses to determine long-term trends.

Lead researcher Dr Emily Sonestedt said the results challenged long-held assumptions about fat and brain health.

He added: “The debate between high-fat and low-fat diets sometimes categorizes cheese as an unhealthy food.

“Our study found that some high-fat dairy products may reduce the risk of dementia, challenging assumptions about fat and brain health.”

Cheese wasn’t the only dairy product linked to conservation. The team also found that people who consumed about one and a half tablespoons of cream per day were 16 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who avoided it completely.

However, the benefits were not seen with all dairy products. Low-fat alternatives and other dairy products did not show a significant protective effect.

Dr. “When it comes to brain health, not all dairy products are equal,” Sonestedt added.